Underfloor wire distributing system



Jan- 5, 1954 J. w. wlEsMANN UNDERFLOOR WIRE DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 7, 1946 INVENTOR. do se/bh N/i//sffnan/y Jam 5, 1954 J. w. wlEsMANN 2,665,027

uNDERFLooR WIRE DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 7, 194e 3 sheets-sheet 2 k l O R KQ l @Mcm HTTO//YEY Jan 5, 1954 J. w. wlEsMANN UNDRFLOOR WIRE DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 7, 1946 INVENTOR JO e/P /I/Msmom 4T/'O17/VEY Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNDERFLOOR WIRE DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Joseph W. Wiesmann, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor 'to H. H. Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 7, 1946, Serial No. 708,419

1 Claim.

'I'his invention relates to an underoor wire distributing system and particularly to apparatus for use in an underoor wire distributing system.

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved apparatus embodied in an -underfloor wire distributing system and Which includes a cellular metallic duct having one or more cells, and junction boxes for connection therewith of novel and improved Construction arranged to permit electrical service to be furnished throughout a building in a simple, economical and efficient manner.

With this general object ,in view, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the underoor Wire distributing apparatus and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment,

Fig. l is a plan view of an underfloor wire distributing system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a junction box embodied in the present apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, as viewed from the line 3 3; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the junction box shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

in general, the present invention contemplates an underfloor wire distributing system having provision for isolating the various electrical services provided in a building and includes novel single or multiple duct conduits or raceways adapted to be connected to junction boxes of novel and improved construction through which access may be had to the various systems for connection to branch circuits.

in prior underoor wiring distribution Systems, such as those illustrated in the patents to Sargent No. 2,041,965 and to Young et al. No. 2,125,366, the wiring ducts comprised the corrugated multicellular floor supporting members of the building which were made available by the use of cross over ducts arranged to run transversely and on top of the door supporting members. The cross over ducts were further provided with junction boxes or upwardly extending headers having access openings in the top thereof, the tops of the junction boxes being arranged to extend substantially flush with the subsequently applied concrete oor ll and the finish flooring. Consequently, in such prior structures, the

height of the floor lill above the top of the cellular nooring included the height of the cross over duct and the height of the upwardly extending junction box thus requiring an excessive amount of floor ll for most purposes, this dimension amounting to between 2 to 2V2 inches in practice.

Accordingly, it is the aim of the present invention to provide an underiioor wiring distribution apparatus designed for a building which is not provided with cellular iloor supporting members of the type described in the above patents, and wherein individual single cell or multi-cellular ducts may be employed together with junction boxes especially designed to receive the present duct. In accordance with one feature of the present invention the cellular ducts are arranged to be directly connected to the junction boxes and to extend in the same horizontal plane therewith thus permitting a substantial reduction in the height of the subsequently applied loor rlll, which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention amounts to approximately 11A inches. Other features include an all metallic 'and relatively light weight duct and junction box structure thus eliminating excessive bulk and weight iand providing an adequate ground for the sys- Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l illustrates a typical underfloor wire distributing system embodying the present invention and in which lil represents individual connected lengths of the present duct structure, and l2 represents the single duct junction boxes adapted for connection with the duct i. The present duct structure i0 comprises yan elongated metallic member of inverted U-shape in cross section having an upper wall I4, side Walls lt provided with flanges I8 extended outwardly from their lower ends, and a bottom wall 20 which may and preferably will be connected to the flanges I8 by spot Welding to form a. unitary duct as illustrated. As herein shown, the bottom Wall 20 is provided with upturned marginal edges 22.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the junction box I2 for use with the duct l0 comprises an octagonally shaped hollow body portion 2d having a cylindrical access opening 26 in its upper wall and provided with a, dish shaped base portion 28 having a laterally extended ange or shelf 30 also being octagonally shaped in plan as shown in Fig. 2. The junction box is provided with an opening in each of the side Walls which are`d1sposed at right angles to one another and each opening is defined by a projecting sleeve 32 formed integrally with the box and having portions of the sleeve and duct withi tapped openings formed in the base flange of," the.

junction box, the parts being held in assembled relation by screws 38 to form a firm and securey connection between the duct and the junction box. As further illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the entrance cla-mp 34 is provided with an inwardly depressed; portion.. termine eo. ioiermedieie detoo and. eide Wells of deeieeedioeerre ese stop. orsoaoina .ebt between doe edieoeot erde oi die sleeve 3.2.; end. deel2. W deimilei doeel. P01.- tioo or ridge 4.2.; forni d lo. die.. be-.Se desde Sii arranged. in. alignment. vrille the assembled. oleron ebd engaged. by the bottom. Well. 2li of. the ddee said ridges. formlos soeoioe elemente beweer.i the ends. oithe. Sleeves. end seid. duet,

Fredi the deeeriolioatbee. fer il. will be observed the-t. the present onderdoor duoteod. iiirieiioli. box doit be eonneoted. Without redooios the available. space with-.io tbe duel or tbe iuootioo box and that the positivel ooooeotioo between the doot. and the sleeve iorms an. adequate. and. eil.- floierit ground. for the system. The present ionetion box. l2: may and preferably will be made 0f relativen light. weight sbeetmetal: thus. material.- ly. redileirlsl the Weight. of. tbe.- uilii and. also. oro.- vidios. ereletively sreeter internal aree.. es oom.- oered; Willi e. ooit. of. similar. outside-dimensions bei. made of. heavier Ideiel- Ilioiidetiee. .ille individuel. direi. eeeiiooe. I0. may be formed. iii. editable. standard. lengths.. sodi. de 1.2.,ieei loriey eodorovieiorrmede .ior-eoooeeiioe the ducts end to end to form a continuation of die. recevrev.- Eel.' ibis. adipose doubling-.diemher.- '4.4' and 'erobert 46 2e. Provided?. Shown. io Fie.-

'llie elio-ooit.. 4.6.- exieiids-treoeverse1v of libe. diie?. and. eemorieee. o o inverted lJ-Sbeoed member-erreneed loeuooort tbe edieoeot ends of die dooie. efr-d. is. ororided with e. Qontrol.. lloret dertien. 4.3. @selbst which Jelle adjacent ends of lhedeots. ereolaeed.- The eouoliosroember 4.4. is also. ororidedwitli e. eeoirellv dieooeeddepressed eorlioo. eddie arranged tori-rover toeaojaeent ende. of die. dosis lo. amender similar to die en.- lrallee. demo. 34. end. iloe-oerleere held in desembled relation by screws 5 8. arranged.A to fit into lefollled end. aligned openings in. theJ duct, coup ling and support, the latter being provdednwith tapped holes, thus forming a positive and; secure connection. forV grounding. purposes and Without decreasingl the internal area vof-the-duct. As shown in Fig. 2, the support 46 extends transversely. beyond theduct on bothsides andis provided Vatits outer ends with levelingscrews'iZ arranged to be adjustedY to'levelthe duct with relation to the floor. An intermediate support 54 may also bel provided intermediate the ends. of theindividual ducts, as illustrated in Fig.` 2, the duct l0 and support Bd'beingj providedwithy pre.- formed and eli'eried, openings.; io-.reoeiyeetteoling screws 56. lThe intermediate support is like- 4 wise provided with leveling screws 52 at the lat-r erally extended ends of the support.

An end closure may also be provided for the duct IU where required, such as is indicated at 60, and, as illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, they duct. end closure comprises. a base, or support 6,2, a clampingor coupling member N and a cap or closure member 66. In assembling the closure the end of the duct I0 is placed on one side of the base member 62 and the cap member 66 may be placed in alignment with the end of the duct on the opposite side of the base. The adjacent ends of the duct. cap member are of substantiallylthe same cross sectional dimensions and are spacedapartby.- a central upset portion 68 formed in the base 62. The coupling member 84 may then be placedover the adjacent edges of the duct and` cap. member and secured to the duct, cap and base by screws 10, as illustrated. The coupling member 6.4. is. also. provided with an intermediate depressed portion l2 for spacingy purposes, and. the. base member (5,2` is` provided with adjusting or leveling screws 52. In practice, each endclosure QQ is provided with4 an end marker 'Hl` arranged to extend upwardly so. that its Upper end* will be` flush with the level oiy the screed line or finished floor herein indicated by the dot and dash line T3 in Fig. 3. As herein shown, the marker '|'44 is secured to. the end ofI they duct by a screw 1.5 extending through a. central bore in the marker, through the top wall of the coupling andy into a tapped hole in the. end of thel duct.

In Fig. 2, the remaining sleeve projections 32 have been provided with typical fittings illustrative of those indicated generally in the distribution system` layout shown in Fig. l. Such. fittings includea closure for an unused boxv ductl opening, as shown at 'i6 in Figs, 2 and 3, and which comprises a capA member having atop wall Tl, side walls I8 and a closure wall 19, extended portions 8,8; of the side walls 18 being bent. over the edges or'h the closure wall, as illustrated. TheY v end closure 15 is fitted over the projecting sleeve.v 32 defining the, boxl opening and is attached .thereto by a screw 82.

As. illustretedeeoerellv at 84. io Eig. 2.-,V provision. may: also. be mede. for providingl a .Sleeve-oortion 32 with a conduit adapter which comprises e.. hollow littine bovinsen internally threaded cylindrical hub portion 85- at oneend lvtor receivins the. conduit.. aardbeving. e. substantially reelzeogulor Sbeoed portieri. 8.3 et. its oth r. end erranged tout within. the sleeve. enel-lilla. The adapter. may. be secured to,- the Sleeve by screw 90. 'Phe remaining sleeve. projection 3l is; also provided with. an entrance clamp. 34. Similar lo the one. abovey desoribedfor connecting. @length of duct tmtliereto, and, at the outer end of. the duct is illustrated generally a. tting; 9,2 comprisy inga conduit. adapter. to permit connection of a conduit. to the end.r of theduot. The Il ttillg- .92 includes.. parts. similar` to those used .for the dieet end-i .olosurojmexcept that. tbe. can member i 6.6...is removed. and inits placeis provided acondnit adapterA 8.4V abovev described, similar (Dalits. .being identified by. the.. samenumerals. as in ,the above description.

Referring. esem to Eis. 2, it, will. be. observed that; the remaining. leur Sides.. ofr die.. Qcieeooelly Shaped. body portion.2`4V oi the iuootioo boxif, CQmDzlgi QDDQSQC.` ddonally dSPQSed. Sides.; all@ each. provided; with a preformed knockout, |00 of the type which may be easily removed. .for receiving doondoit. Connection for vtloefeed. Wires or additional branch circuits. Furthermore in order to provide ample clearance for the conduit and the connecting coupling, the base flange 30 is provided with a concave portion |02 concentric with the knockout opening, the bottom of the ange at this point being substantially in horizontal alignment with the bottom of the dished out base member 28.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a conduit connector of novel construction, indicated generally at |04, may be provided for connecting a conduit |06 to the wall around the knockout opening of the junction box from the outside of the box, and may be generally used in other places where access to the opposite side of the connecting wall is inconvenient, dicult or impossible.

As above described, the top of the junction box extends iiush with the level of the finish flooring and, as herein shown, the access opening 26 is provided with a cover |22 ush with the top of the box and arranged to t in a circular groove |24 formed in a cylindrical sleeve |26 dening the access opening. A washer or gasket |28 may also be provided as shown and the cover may be secured in place in the groove by screws |30, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The outside diameter of the cylindrical sleeve |26 may and preferably will be tapered as illustrated with the large diameter of the taper at top, providing in eifect an externally recessed collar around the cover to provide an eicient anchorage for the subsequently applied concrete floor ll.

From the above description it will be observed that the present underfloor wire distributing duct and the iittings and connections above described, are adapted for use with a shallow flooring, in which the ducts are arranged in the same plane as the junction boxes.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms Within the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In an underiioor Wire distribution system, ,in combination, a sheet-metal junction box having a dish-shaped bottom Wall terminating in a lateral edge defining outwardly extended flanges forming a horizontal shelf spaced above the plane of said bottom wall, and having an access opening in its upper wall provided with a removable cover member, a side wall of said box having an opening therein defined by a substantially rectangular sheet-metal entrance sleeve having a top wall and side walls projecting horizontally from the junction box and provided with outwardly extended marginal flanges, the horizontal shelf of the junction box forming the bottom Wall of said entrance sleeve and extended a substantial distance beyond the end of the sleeve, an elongated unitary metallic duct member of substantially the same cross-sectional dimensions as said sleeve including the marginal anges, one end of said duct member resting on the extended portion of said shelf in alignment with said entrance sleeve, and means connecting the duct to the junction box comprising a removable clamping member of generally inverted U-shape and spanning the adjacent ends of said entrance sleeve and said duct and being provided with laterally extended marginal portions overlying said sleeve anges and said duct flanges, and fastening means extending through said marginal portions, flanges and shelf for rigidly connecting the duct to said shelf.

JOSEPH W. WIESMANN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 211,387 Driesslein Jan. 14, 1879 643,108 Campbell Feb. 13, 1900 667,567 Page Feb. 5, 1901 858,846 Alexander July 2, 1907 1,032,058 Gilson July 9, 1912 1,065,492 Abbott June 24, 1913 1,592,548 Walker July 13, 1926 1,626,570 Walker Apr. 26, 1927 1,782,779 Pullman Nov. 25, 1930 1,812,756 Riggs June 30, 1931 1,814,449 Morgenstern July 14, 1931 1,861,435 Chamberlain et al. June 7, 1932 2,000,850 Knell May 7, 1935 2,041,965 Sargent May 26, 1936 2,081,197 Goeller May 25, 1937 2,125,366 Young et al. Aug. 2, 1938 2,271,798 Lewin Feb. 3, 1942 2,326,841 Despard Aug. 17, 1943 2,357,754 Moll Sept. 5, 1944 2,378,529 Austin, Jr. June 19, 1945 2,425,545 Lefebre Aug. 12, 1947 

